What size tent?

I would suggest buy either of these tents and when more space is needed get a large polly tarp and poles.
Most of the people we camp with do this.
A 10X10 will gige enough room for 2adulst an 2 kids for quite awhile wit some storage.

SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD TRIP COMMING UP YOU WILL LOVE IT.
WE HAVE A SOUTHEN CROSS 10X10 CENTRE POLE WITH AWNING.
WE HAVE 3 CHILDREN 2,8,10 AND US ON A DOUBLE LI-LO AND CLOTHS TOWELS ETC, OK FOR OVERNIGHT STOPS BUT THE KIDS HAVE A DOME TENT FOR LONGER STAYS WE ALSO HAD A PORTA COT IN CORNER WHEN THE YOUNGER WAS A BABY STILL WITH REMEMBER YOU DONT LIVE IN THE TENT YOU SLEEP THERE. THE AWNING IS A MUST, I DONT USE THE 10 X10 MUCH AS WE HAVE A VAN BUT I WONT PART WITH IT. THERE IS ALWAYS GOOD RESALE VALUE WITH THE SOUTHERN CROSS
SEE YA DRIVE SAFE AND DONT RUSH AND GIVE FELLOW TRAVERLLERS A WAVE.
MICH

Been there done that tenting thing Rohan..you wont be evicting the kids...they will decamp...ours did , not sleeping with you 2 they said , we want our own tents....cheers

I don't know how much experience you have camping outdoors around Australia, because the flies, mosquitos and sand flies in some places are unbelievable, and always around to some extent everywhere.

I would suggest a 12 x 12 quality quick erecting screen house with floor, something like the Blackwolf Ivanhoe Screen Enclosure, and a small tent like the Coleman Traveller for when the weather is lousy. The Blackwolf screen tent mesh really can be called waterproof, as it is close weave so it is sand fly proof.
http://www.colemanaustralia.com.au/Product,1137,10100A.aspx?page=2

Depending on where you are camping, the majority of time you would just dump your bedding on the floor of the screen tent. Only if the weather is inclement, cold or wet would you put up the Coleman Traveller. The good features of the Coleman Traveller are that the tent has sufficient ventilation and is very well designed and don't believe there is another tent of that size on the market with the features and value for money. A small touring business we run they use these tents, so can speak with knowledge on them.

With a good screen tent, you can really enjoy your camping, sit in comfort without waving flies and getting bitten, and not get them in your food etc. etc. etc.

Canvas tents are a total pain. You cannot put them away wet because they get mouldy so damn quickly, they are cumbersome, bulky and heavy, *always* leak.

You may remember this reply on your travels, and thank me for giving you this advice, or saying to yourselves, if only we had followed the advice in that reply. Flies, mosquitoes and sand flies are a menace, and no amount of repellent will do a good enough job.
With a baby a screen enclosure is even more important. Have fun practicing.

Another good tip you may not be aware off, the home brand roll on deodorant is one of the greatest itch and bite relief available. Just roll deodorant on the bite and five minutes later you have relief from the bite and itching. The expensive product Stingoze is 25% aluminium hydroxide (or something like that) and the roll on deodorant is 15 aluminium hydroxide (or some derivative like that). At around $1.00 for the roll on deodorant, is a real gem for relief.

Rohan,

I have to agree with Ozi's comments above about heat, flies, midgies etc. I lived in NQ most of my life, a year in Darwin and much time spent in northern WA touring etc.

For many years we used a canvas pyramid style tent which was great but heavy and bulky to carry. Later we went to a larger, dome tent which we found absolutely fantastic. Very quick and easy to erect and pull-down and pack-up into a light weight, compact duffel bag. We used this for 8 years before buying a camper trailer. Still have it for those few occasions we don't use the trailer.

Dome style tents can be bought in just about every size, configuration and price range imaginable so there are plenty to choose from.

Unless rain is threatening, leave the fly off. The inner tent fabric is designed to "breath" so you will be amazed at how much more comfortable it is.

Flies and midgies can be a real nuisance so it is advisable to have some sort of protection from them in the form of a screen house or mozzie net (at least for those longer stopovers). When your baby comes along, this will really come into its own.

Hope this is of some help.

:o) Melissa

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I appreciate all the comments.

Should have mentioned that we are from Melbourne and will be spending future trips around the High Country so will probably still go down the canvas tent track. And I can hear you telling me now Ozi that it'll never dry - but you know, everybody has to learn from their own mistakes!

Thanks for the stop itch idea. Was thinking of starting a thread about 'money savers' while travelling and it's a good start - won't stink either!

Talk to you later,
Rohan.

Rohan,

youve probably made your decision but heres my 2c worth...

We travelled extensively up Far North with our SouthernCross 12x12, most nights, due to ease and heat, we slept under a mozzie net.
Other than peak mozzie times, we found ourselves outside mostly, the tent became a 'roomy' extravagance.
These are HEAVY tents and can be tiresome constantly moving. Not for overnight/weekend jaunts. If you plan to stay put for a week at a time, go for it.
Buy a side pole extension - a little extra gear but heaps more space inside.
If you are organised!!, canvas tents can be up faster than a dome tent. We can erect ours in under 4 minutes! (15-20 min. to pack it away again)

My evaluation - buy a light, airy, EASY TO ERECT tent for your Northern trip, consider a canvas tent some other journey.

hope this helps,
Rich